Celestial position indicator and compass



P. E. HOFFMEISTER CELESTIAL POSITION INDICATOR AND COMPASS 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 16, 1950 Filed Jan. 51, 1948 INVENTOR:

A TTORNE YS.

May 16, 1950 P. E. HoFFMElsTER 2,508,027v

cELEsTIAL POSITION INDICATOR ANO COMPASS Filed Jan. 51, 1.948 y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE YS.

May 16, 1950 P. E. Hom-MEISTER 2,508,027

CELESTIAL POSITION INDICATOR AND COMPASS Filed Jan. 31, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VENTOR:

@UWE/@59123157615 B Y W /ZZ/LLQ A TTORNE YS.

May 16, 1950 P. E. H oFFMEls'l-ER CELESTIAL POSITION INDICATOR AND COMPASS Filed Jan. 31,v 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A TTORNE YS.

:merely illustrative and not restrictive.

Patented May i6.,` 195i) OFFICE CELESTTAL POSITION INDICATOR AND COMPASS Philip E. Hoffmeister, Perkasie, Pa.

Application January 31, 1948, Serial No. 5,668

3 Claims.

mathematical equations using the values so obitained. This method is not only laborious and .time-consuming, but in the case of fast moving aircraft the nal determination of position rep- ;resents a geographical point signiiicantly at vari- .ance with the actual position as of the time of determination since the aircraft moves over a .considerable distance during the time required :for making the necessary mathematical calculations. It is therefore necessary to supplement fthe calculated values for position with estimated or dead reckoning values for the change in position in order to arrive at the instantaneous position. This is obviously a disadvantage, particularly in the case of high speed travel by air. For sonic and supersonic speeds it becomes unworkable due to the large degree of error introduced in estimating change of position.

One object of the present invention is to provide means for quickly determining the instantaneous geographical position of a moving object Without resort to the solving of mathematical problems.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means for instant and continuous visual indication of position and true heading of objects in motion relative to the earths surface.

A still further object is to provide a novel and simpliiied method of navigation for ships, Iaircraft, guided missiles and the like whereby such carriers may be continuously directed along a desired path to a selected destination.

Further objects and particular features of the present invention will appear from the following description having reference to the annexed drawings, it being intended that the specific embodiments therein shown shall be taken as being In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the position indih cator and compass and associated mechanism of the present invention, the upper part being in vertical section in order to show important constructional details.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the central part of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 2 taken as indicated by the arrows III-III in Fig. 2. l

Fig. 4 isa fractural elevation taken as indicated by the lines IV-IV on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the rotating mechanism shown at the base of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken as indicated by the arrows VI-VI on Fig. 5.

In the drawings, spherical elements I0, Il and I2 have a common center and are concentrically mounted. Hemisphere l@ is xedly mounted and is maintained in xed position as hereinafter described. Earth hemisphere II and star hemisphere i2 are rotationally movable relative to each other about their common polar axis. They are also rotationally movable in coupled relation about their common polar axis, about a fixed vertical axis and about a xed horizontal axis. Hemisphere IEB is provided with a visual marking I3 at its topmost point located at the intersection of said fixed vertical axis and the upper circumference of hemisphere I0. Each of the hemispheres It, I i and I 2 are constructed of a transparent material such as Plexiglas Earth hemisphere II is marked as shown with lines of latitude and longitude, thus providing means for designating the geographical location of al1 points lying on its circumference. It is provided with designations of longitude around its equatorial circumference and with designations of latitude along the meridian as shown. Star hemisphere I2 is provided with small openings corresponding in position to the relative positions of a plurality of stars. Around its equatorial circumference it is provided with markings corresponding to time divisions of the sidereal day comprising 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.099 seconds.

Hemisphere ID is rmly attached to mounting ring i4 as shown in Fig. 2. Attached to ring I4 is mounting bracket I5 which is pivotally mounted on the pin I6 carried by supporting arm Il. Mounting ring I is provided with a exible apron I8 which is attached to the vehicle structure I9 as shown. A second arm 20 is likewise fixed to element I9 and is provided with an adjusting screw 2i which makes contact with the bracket 22 and thereby provides an adjusting means for a preliminary leveling .of mounting ring id and all of the structure attached thereto. Earth hemisphere I I is attached to the double channeled supporting ring 23 which is slidably supported on segmented shoes 24 and 24a, carried by arcuate gear rack 25. Pointers 'It and 'Ita are attached to shoes 24 and 24a respectively and extend upwardly to give a positional indication behind the numbers marked on the longitude scale of earth hemisphere I I.

Star hemisphere I2 is mounted within U-shaped ring 26 which is slidably mounted within the upper channel of ring 23 and is carried by the rollers 2i. Rollers 2 are mounted Within the upper channel of ring 23 as shown in Fig. 2. Spokes 28 are attached to ring 23 and `iixedly attached to ring 23.

viewing element 29 is flxedly mounted at the center of said spokes. Electric timer element 30 which drives gear 3l is a type well known in the art and is mounted on the channel ring 23. It is provided with an electrical connection 32 for energization and may be operated both to adjust the position of star hemisphere I2 and also to maintain continuously the relative positions rof earth hemisphere II and star hemisphere I2 'in timed relation. Gear ring 33 is attached to ring 25 and engages with gear 3 I, thus making it possible to rotate star hemisphere l2 relative to earth hemisphere II independently of the other motions hereinafter described.

Bracket 34 is mounted on arcuate gearrack 25 and provides a support for shaft 35 and shaft 36. Gear wheel 31 is mounted on shaft 35 and engages with gear track 38 which in turn is Also attached to shaft 35 is worm wheel 90 which is driven by the worm 9| carried on shaft 36. Flexible drive shaft 92, shown in Fig. l, is attached to shaft n36 and carries Va driven bevel gear 93 at its lower end. Drive shaft 92 terminates at case 94 and bevel gear 95 4engages bevel gear 93. Adjusting handle 96 is attached to shaft 91 and thus provides means for operating gear 93, worm gear 9 I worm wheel 99 and gear 38. This results in a simultaneous rotation of hemispheres II and I2 about theircommon polar axis. Flexible cable 98 is attached to shaft 91 at one end and at the other endis attached to longitude indicator 64.

Arcuate gear rack 25 is slidably mounted in rotatable yoke 48 which is mounted on vertical shaft 49 by means of a collar 50 which is attached Yto yoke 48, as shown in Figs. and 6. Shaft 49 is mounted in thrust bearing 52 and is rotated Yby-worm wheel 53 which is actuated by worm gear 54. Shaft 55 carries worm 54 and is actuated by the rotation of the arm 56. Shaft'49 is also provided with a gear'51-which'engages gear 58 carrying shaft 59 at the lower end of which is mounted bevel gear 60. Bevel gear BI engages bevel gear 60 and is attached to indicator shaft 62 to which is attached exible cable 63 which transmitsthe motion of shaft 62 to true heading indicator 5I.

Gears 40 and 4I are mounted on shaft 39 and engage gear rack'25 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Worm wheel 42 is also mounted on shaft 39 and is engaged'by worm gear 43 which is mounted on shaft'44. 'Handle 45 is provided for rotating shaft 44 thus providing means for sliding track 25 in yoke 48 and thereby imparting a rotational -to-shaft85 and leads to latitude indicator 41.

The mechanism for rotating shaft 49 and for sliding track 25 in yoke 48 is mounted as a part of housing element 68 which is carried by supporting arm 69. The platform represented by housingelement 88 may be automatically stabilized in a horizontal position by gyroscope or similar well known means not shown.

In order to obtain positional readings of the f highest accuracy in the use of the present invention, it is necessary to operate under conditions in which the vertical axis referred to above maintained in a ixed perpendicular position.

This is accomplished by taking the reading during the time in which the aircraft or other vehicle is in a position in which the ring structure I4 is level. In the case -of Vaircraft this can be accomplished by taking the observation during the time when the airplane is ying straight and level. However, since the position of the nose of the plane relative to the horizon varies with different load conditions, means have been provided for making adjustments in order to level ring structure I4. This leveling ls accomplished by raising or lowering the forward portion of ring I4 relative to plane structure I9 by adjustments of the screw 2|. This results in a rotation of bracket I5 and associated arm 89 around the pivot element I8. Exact adjustment is facilitated by the use of a level (not shown) mounted onvplatform `88. Alternatively gryroscopic means may be used for .stabilizing the position of platform 68 horizontally 'as referred vto above.

vThe present invention includes Vthe method of determining position by adjusting 'the position of a spherical star element` so that star markings thereon correspond in position to the position of the vstars in the heavens, simultaneously positioning a concentrically mounted'spherical earth element maintained in proper timed'relationship to the star element and then directly determining position by reference to therpoint corresponding to the geographical location of the observer. This point is the point at which thexedvertical axis of the spherical element I0 intersects the circumference of the earth element and maybe directly observed or indirectly observed by reference to the indicating means shown.

It will be noted that theapparatus shown in the drawings comprises mechanical means for accomplishing thispurpose by providing two axes of rotation maintained at right anglesto each other for coupled movement of the star and earth hemispheres, one axis for coupled movement about the common polar axis of the star and-earth hemispheres, and a, fourth axisfoi' relative rotation of the two hemispheres about their common polar axis.

In order to carry out the navigationalmethod of the present invention using the apparatus shown and described in the jpresent specification, the operator lrst adjusts'the position of star hemisphere l2 relative to the earth hemisphere II to correspond with the sidereal time. lTimer 38 is then put inoperation and the'proper relationship is automatically maintained. Once the preliminary adjustment is made the electric timer is permitted to operate continuously and thus maintains the proper time relationship between the star and earth hemispheres. Determination of position is carried .out by positioning star hemisphere I2 so that the holes in its circumference correspond in position to thatof the corresponding stars in the heavens as viewed through eye piece 5 which is attached byme'ans of movable shaft 6 to viewing' element 29 mounted at the center of the hemispheres. This is accomplished by making the proper adjustments in theposition of star hemisphere I2 through operation of the handles'45, 56A and 96. At the point of exact correspondence of' star hole and star a characteristic concentration of light or light bloom is visually apparent to the operator who then makes the necessary adjustments to bring one or more additional star holes into exact correspondence with the stars being observed. As soon asthishasbeenaccomplished the position of the observer is immediately-available either by reading on the earth chart the latitude and longitude corresponding to the position of mark I3 or by reading the corresponding mechanically derived values for the latitude and longitude of this position from the indicators 41 and 64. The true heading will be indicated at indicator 5|.

While the embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in the drawings includes mechanism for manual positioning of the star hemisphere to correspond with the position of the stars in the heavens, it will be apparent to those familiar with the art of matching and following that the manual crank elements may be operated by suitable electric motors or the like. Moreover, the openings shown in the star hemlsphere may be replaced by suitable lenses or other optical light gathering devices. The star hemisphere may also be automatically maintained in the desired correspondence with the stars through the action of suitable following devices well known in the art. It Will also be apparent that the indicating means showing position and true heading may be remotely mounted with respect to the star hemisphere and the rotating mechanism. This makes it possible to use such remotely mounted indicating means as a continuous reference provided the matching and following mechanism is continuously operated. Where this procedure is followed the indicating means becomes a combination compass and position indicator.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a position indicating instrument, a transparent star spherical element and a transparent earth spherical element movably positioned one within the other and having a common center, said star element having designations corresponding to a plurality of navigational stars and said earth element having visible designa,- tions of geographical locations; supporting means for said elements; means indicating the positional relationship between said spherical elements with respect to time; polar axis rotational means operatively connected to one of said spherical elements whereby said time positional relationship may be varied; means for maintaining said elements in a predetermined positional relationship; vertical axis rotational means operative to rotate both of said elements simultaneously about a fixed vertical axis while maintaining said positional relationship; horizontal axis rotational means operative to rotate both ci said elements simultaneously about a ixed horizontal axis perpendicular to said vertical axis While maintaining said positional relationship; polar axis rotational means operative to rotate both of said elements simultaneously about their com mon polar axis while maintaining said positional relationship; a viewing element positioned within said spherical elements at the center thereof; and position indicating means identifying the point of intersection of said vertical axis and the circumference of said earth element.

2. In a position indicating instrument, a transparent star spherical element and a transparent earth spherical element movably positioned one Within the other and having a common center, said star element having designations corresponding to a plurality of navigational stars and said earth element having visible designations of geographical locations; supporting means for said elements comprising a movable ring engaging said earth spherical element and a second ring engaging said star spherical element and movably mounted within said rst ring; means indicating the positional relationship between said spherical elements with respect to time; polar axis rotational means operatively connected to one oi said spherical elements whereby said time positional relationship may be varied; means for maintaining said elements in a predetermined positional relationhip; vertical axis rotational means operative to rotate both of said elements simultaneously about a xed vertical axis while maintaining said positional relationship; horizontal axis rotational means operative to rotate both of said elements simultaneously about a fixed horizontal axis perpendicular to said vertical axis While maintaining said positional relationship; polar axis rotational means operative to rotate both of said elements simultaneously about their common polar axis while maintaining said positional relationship; a viewing element positioned within said spherical elements at the center thereof; and position indicating means identifying the point of intersection of said vertical axis and the circumference of said earth element.

3. In a position indicating instrument, a transparent star spherical element and a transparent earth spherical element movably positioned one Within the other and having a common center, said star element having designations corresponding to a plurality of navigational stars and said earth element having visible designations of geographical locations; supporting means for said elements comprising a movable ring engaging said earth spherical element and a second ring engaging said star spherical element and movably mounted within said first ring; means indicating the positional relationship between said spherical elements with respect to time; polar axis rotational means operatively connected to said second ring whereby said time positional relationship may be varied; means for maintaining said elements in a predetermined positional relationship; vertical axis rotational means comprising a rack and a supporting, rotatably mounted yoke, said yoke being in operative engagement with said rst ring, said rotational means being operative to rotate both of said spherical elements simultaneously about a xed vertical axis while maintaining said positional relationship; horizontal -axis rotational means including said yoke and said rack operative to rotate both of said elements simultaneously about a fixed horizontal axis perpendicular to said vertical axis while maintaining said positional relationship; polar axis rotational means operative to rotate both of said elements simultaneously about their common polar axis while maintaining said positional relationship; a viewing element positioned within said spherical elements at the center thereof; `and position indicating means identifying the point of intersection of said vertical axis and the circumference of said earth element.

PHILIP E. I-IOFFLEISTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 1,223,502 Mace Apr. 24, 1917 2,337,587 Brockey Dec. 28, 1943 2,429,754 I-Iagner Oct. 28, 194.7

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 147.690 Great Britain Sept. l5, 1921 218,527 Great Britain July 10, 1924 

